Notes from the USCAF, Pt. 2

As the week wore on, the frenzy of meetings and entertainment continued. We saw “Broadband Theater”, with Evan Spiridellis of JibJab who we later met along with his brother Gregg for a hot chocolate with creme de menthe.

Later that night we saw “The Don Rickles Project.” It was a privilege to see Rickles, who was being honored with the USCAF Lifetime Achievement Award, but when Bob Newhart unexpectedly showed up to present the award, the Wheeler Opera House went nuts.

Steven Wright’s show was marvelous. I sat there gaping at his genius. He’s a good guy too. A night later, we went to see the USCAF’s “Man of the Year” Stephen Colbert . His poster had a closeup of him with the words: “Me. Not You.”

Some more highlights: Lunch at the hospitality suite with USCAF Film Program Director Kevin Haasarud, lunch with comic Dave Hill, Alan Zweibel’s “The History of Me” a very funny and moving show about SNL and Gilda Radner, “The Moth”, a storytelling session with standup comics, meeting filmmaker Armen Kaprelian, the creator of the award- winning feature Closing Escrow and meeting Denver comic Josh Blue, by the fireplace in the lobby of The St. Regis Hotel.

The last night of the festival, I hung out with the lovely and talented Colorado radio personality and all-around superwoman Rochelle Obechina.

On the flight back to Denver I sat next to Chicago Improv actress Megan Grano of The Ragdolls. Later we had dinner with mega-journalist Chase Squires and his lovely wife Saralee…Two strawberry margaritas took the edge off our six hour layover. We finally arrived back in Boston on the red-eye at 5:30 EST.

It was an incredible time. For five days, Orrin and I were at the funniest place on earth.